Effects of Giving Blood

[Vasquoy]

Just curious to know what the effects on your body are by giving a usual amount of blood? Are there any positive or negative health effects?

[Kate77]

Hi

I give blood and don't have any side affects! When you give blood they sit you down afterwards and give you a drink and a biscuit. The place I go to offers sandwiches!! The only positive affect of giving blood I can think of is that you have helped someone in need! The negative - there arent any! Well not fo me anyway ;-)

[loopyc]

maybe a little bruise thats all, i applaud anyone that gives blood an hour every four months to save many lives.

[Quizmonkey]

Go to www.blood.co.uk - the National Blood Service's website. It has answers to every question you could possibly ask.

[4getmenot]

Positive effects - You can feel prous you've saved someones life
Negative effects - Not many at all, some people moan that they can�t drink alcohol or have a fag for an hour after but that�s nothing really is it. I have had the occasional big bruise when they couldn�t find my blood supply accurately or I was a slow bleeder so they had to move tube around. But as long as everything is done properly and you have a sit down and drink after you should be fine.

[Vasquoy]

Sorry that's not what I meant - I was talking more physiologically - effects on blood pressure, metabolism, white blood cell count, immune system etc!

[Pippa68]

I would imagine that a pint of blood is quite quickly restored, which is why they only take a pint? you would probably have no lasting ill effects from donating.

I used to give blood until the rules were changed for people donating who had received a blood transfusion. This upsets me, as I received 6 pints of blood after giving birth to my first baby and will be eternally grateful to all those who give blood in their lunch hours..without whom I could have died.

[4getmenot]

I saved your life Pip :-)

[Pippa68]

Thank you 4getmenot :o)

I like to think that I saved a few too..in the few years I could donate!

[4getmenot]

I do find it so wrong that homosexuals are not allowed to donate though

[lia*]

I have been a regular blood doner for the last 4 years. I have no side effects or complains whatsoever. Only there is always a problem to locate the vein but once that's found.......

[doglady]

I'm not allowed to give blood any more as I have MS (plus a load of tattoos and holes in my face!), but the one time I did it I felt fantastic afterwards. Maybe I have too much blood, and losing a bit was a good thing!! I can see why they used to use blood letting as a medicine. I was all sort of high afterwards.

[Vasquoy]

I so agree that its bad that homosexuals cannot donate - if they're fit and healthy I see no reason.

Although I do have a joke with my gay best friend that its the one place I can go where there are good looking men and almost know for a fact that they're straight! If only married men could be excluded too.... lol

I give blood every 12 weeks as a matter of course, but it also co-incides with my 3 monthly blood pressure tests - just wondered if the latter could be affected by the former???